VdP des Collines Rhodaniennes

Perched above the increasingly precarious Autoroute A7, these ancient “Vienne” vines host the renaissance of some of France’s oldest plots. Seyssuel labours patiently through the labyrinth of the INAO in a quest for appellation status. Stéphane labours equally patiently on these steep mica-schist soils. Ten years ago he experimented with stems; this year, despite the near perfection of the vintage, there has been complete de-stemming. This wine always haunts aromatically – violets and crushed rock of the sepulchre – while the palate is more forward, ripe blueberry and myrtle providing the most immediate Proustian recollection. Drink 2018-2025.
Simon Field MW, Wine Buyer

New labelling laws mean this wine is now referred to as IGP (Indication Géographique Protegée) rather than Vin de Pays. If the granting of Appellation status still proves elusive, the wine does not fail to please, with classy Viognier writ large, but with a certain additional power and precision on the finish, which bodes well.
Simon Field MW, BBR Buyer

Les Vins de Vienne has almost out-grown their progenitors, in the sense that their négociant arm is now far more significant than that of Messrs Cuilleron, Villard and Gaillard. If the move from the precipitous and chaotic Seyssuel winery has taken a little romance from the project, the brilliant winemaking of Pascal Lombard has ensured an increase in quality and the forging of a distinct identity, important in what may once have been conceived as a somewhat amorphous project.

From the historic old Seyssuel vines north of Ampuis, L’Âme Soeur is farmed on schist and therefore has more of a Côte Brune character, evidenced in the impressive 2009 by dark fruits, an earthy sousbois texture and a fine authoritative finish.

This is breathtakingly good wine for a humble Vin de Pays. From the Collines Rhodaniennes, north of Côte-Rôtie, this has more dark fruit and depth than many a Côte-Rôtie. Stéphane’s wines are just stunning this year and this could be the best value wine of them all.
(Chris Pollington, Fine Wine Advisor)

Best-value Northern Rhône Red
The wines of Seyssuel may currently be classified as Vin de Pays, but I think the quality easily justifies it having its own appellation. No doubt this will happen as some stage; we will be hearing more and more about this emerging area of the Northern Rhône. A floral nose leads to lots of spicy and smoky notes across the palate. Cool, succulent dark fruit with an attractive creaminess, cleansing acidity and an anise finish. A vin de plaisir
Martin Rolph, Private Account Manager

Elegantly styled and full of quality, this strikes an instant sense of complexity with spicy wild strawberries and black cherries on the nose. A bit of hedonistic pleasure isn’t far behind though as the palate is pure and silky smooth, before soft and clean tannins give a very fresh feel to the finish.
Guy Davies, Wine Team

L’Ame Sœur is now recognised as one of the most successful of the Seyssuel projects, that is to say the vineyards that have been revitalised above Vienne on the East side of the River… the subtle differences in aspect and soil (mica-schist in essence) are captured, enticingly, in an example which glories in pavonine complexity on the finish.
Simon Field MW, Rhône Wine Buyer

If one is permitted to assess the quality of a vigneron by the number of eager Antipodean cellar rats helping out at vintage time, then Stéphane Ogier appears to be the man of the moment. If one takes the more traditional approach of assessing quality by analysis of what is in the glass, or what is in the barrel, then he is definitely the man of the moment. He compares it to 2010, which is praise indeed.

The 2011 L’Âme Soeur is as good as ever. Produced from vines grown on micro-schist in Seyssuel north of Côte-Rôtie on the left bank of the Rhône, this has become a serious cuvée despite its relatively young 13-year-old vines. Seyssuel is an area were the first Roman vineyards were built and it lay barren after the destruction of the vineyards by phylloxera at the end of the 19th century. The vineyards are steep (up to 50 gradient like Côte-Rôtie itself) and were first replanted in 1996. 14 growers are now located in Seyssuel and in 2012 they all applied to receive AOP status. L’Âme Soeur is rich and spicy on the nose, with good mouthfeel and flavours of rich warm exotic fruit on the palate. As the vines grow older, this cuvée is becoming more and more exciting.
Fine Wine Team

We know all about Stéphane’s reputation in Côte-Rôtie. He is also burdened with the mantle of being the leading producer in the ancient Seyssuel vineyards above Vienne. Micro-schist gives this an extraordinary wine a Côte Blonde elegance, with violets, dense, dark fruit and very finely etched tannins causing one to consider withdrawing the statement made at the end of the La Rosine note above. This too is currently a Vin de Pays, but it is sure to be promoted to full appellation status soon.
Simon Field MW, BBR Buyer

Stéphane Ogier is now, arguably, the leading producer in Côte-Rôtie. Confident, modest and courteous, in short he is the perfect ambassador for the appellation. Stéphane now farms 12 parcels in Côte-Rôtie and has also launched a well-named Côtes du Rhône (Le Temps est Venu which we will sell elsewhere). He held his nerve through the rainy patches in September and the relatively late-picking has been rewarded with a superb range of wines. Stéphane compares their style, with more acidity and less alcohol than usual, to 2006, a vintage which has developed very nicely indeed.

Despite the relative youth of the vines, which one must remember when rehearsing the long history of the vineyards themselves, the Sotanum is an extraordinarily concentrated wine; dark berried fruit shares the palate with notes of bitter chocolate, peat and crushed blackberries. Graphite and even hints of charcoal underline the individuality of this very special plot. The story is, of course, all in the sub-plot, which is pure schist.
Simon Field MW, BBR Buyer, February 2012

If one believes the old adage about imitation and flattery, then Les Vins de Vienne should be justifiably proud of the numerous growers now making wine from the ancient vineyards of Seyssuel, just to the north of the old Roman town of Vienne. The role of the founders, Messrs Gaillard, Cuilleron and Villard is now one of benevolent consultancy and today it is winemaker Pascal Lombard who is guiding the style and building the reputation. In the manner of the Sorcerers Apprentice, the off-spring has now out-grown all three of its progenitors, but this does not seem to have had a detrimental effect on quality, particularly with the Domaine wines, the best of which are offered below.